NYC Museums Free Days Calendar

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Many NYC Museums are actually FREE?

Many New York City Museums are non-profit organizations. Their goal is to make art and culture affordable to everyone. As non-profits, they ask for a “suggested donation” or contribution to access the museum, rather than an admission price.

NYC Museums Quick Overview

Pay attention when evaluating New York City Attractions Passes, if the “price” is suggested donation or an actual admission cost. Please do donate as these Museums are priceless and the money donated goes back into the NYC Museums, so we can all enjoy them.

Most New York City Museums also offer Free or “Pay-What-You-Wish” days and times. NYC Museums you can visit during these times include The Bronx Zoo, Whitney Museum, 9-11 Museum, Children’s Museum of the Arts, Guggenheim Museum, Museum of Modern Art, New-York Historical Society and many others.

The Statue of Liberty Museum is always free, but please read all the fine print so you can be guaranteed a reservation inside the most popular NYC Museum, and not just a pleasant boat tour or ferry ride.

Read more about free times to visit NYC Museums or check the New York City Museums Guide for insider tips on visiting all our Museums.

Which New York City Pass is best for Museums?

Best NYC Attractions Pass for Museums

	Sightseeing Pass	New York Pass	Go City New York	CityPASS

9/11 Museum	✔	✔	✔	✔ 9/11 or Intrepid
Natural History	✔ Admission	✔ Admission	✔ Admission	✔ Admission ✔ Planetarium
Guggenheim	✔	✔	✔	✔ TOTR or Guggenheim
Intrepid	✔	✔	✔	✔ 9/11 or Intrepid
MET	X	X	X	X
MoMA	✔	✔	✔
Liberty/ Ellis	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration ✔ Secret Tour	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration ✔ Secret Tour	✔ Ferry/Grounds or Circle Line
Whitney	✔	✔	✔

NYC Museums Free Days Calendar

Pay as You Wish and Free Days/Times

Free Download: NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Guide

Mondays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

9-11 Memorial Museum – 3:30pm – 5pm free admission with reservation
Museum at Eldridge Street – 10-5pm

Tuesdays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms (Mr. Morgan’s Library, Study, Rotunda, and Librarian’s Office), 3-5pm
Wave Hill, all or 9am to 12pm, depending on time of year

Wednesdays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Museum of Jewish Heritage 4 to 8pm
Bronx Zoo, pay-what-you-wish, all proceeds support their animal care work. Reserved Ticket required.
NY Botanical Garden
Van Cortlandt House Museum

Thursdays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Museum of Arts and Design (formerly American Craft Museum), 6-9 pm
Children’s Museum of the Arts, 4-6pm
New Museum of Contemporary Art, 7-9pm

Fridays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Bronx Museum of the Arts
New in 2019, the Intrepid offers FREE Fridays the last Friday of every month, April through September from 5:00pm–8:00pm
International Center for Photography (ICP), 5-8pm
UNIQLO Free Fridays @ MoMA – MoMA stays open late the first Friday of every month and admission is free just for New Yorkers! Tickets, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., are free for New York City residents but must be reserved in advance (up to two adults), and are subject to availability and proof of residency.
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms, 7 to 9pm
New-York Historical Society – Pay-what-you-wish 6 to 8 pm
Whitney Museum of American Art – Pay-what-you-wish 7 to 10 pm
Children’s Museum of Manhattan – 5-8 pm free admission, 1st Friday of every month

Saturdays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 10am-noon
Guggenheim, 5:45-7:45 pm
Jewish Museum, 11:00 am – 5:45 pm
NY Botanical Garden – 9am – 10 am
Wave Hill, 9am to 12pm
MoMA A Closer Look for Kids – Saturdays and Sundays, 10:20–11:30 a.m. Engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art. A new theme is introduced each month.

Sundays – Free and Discounted NYC Museums

Frick Collection, 11:00-1:00 pm
Morgan Library & Museum, McKim rooms, 4 to 6 pm
New York Hall of Science – 10 am to 11am
MoMA A Closer Look for Kids – Saturdays and Sundays, 10:20–11:30 a.m. Engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at modern masterpieces and cutting-edge contemporary art. A new theme is introduced each month.

UNIQLO Free Fridays

UNIQLO Free Fridays (formerly “Target Free Fridays”) at the Museum of Modern Art is every Friday, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Admission is free for all visitorsand the line for tickets begins at 54th Street entrance. To avoid long lines, visitors are strongly encouraged to arrive after 6:00 p.m.

Since the program launched in 2004, nearly three million visitors have enjoyed free admission and increased accessibility to MoMA’s exhibitions, film screenings and The Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden.

More from NYC Insider Guide:

Visiting New York City Museums – 9-11 Museum, Natural History, Whitney, Guggenheim, Intrepid and more!
New York City Museums – free days and times downloadable chart
Free Things to Do in NYC
Free NYC Museum Admission for Military Families all Summer
Museums on Us Program by Bank of America

New York City Museum Guides

Best New York City Museum for Kids

Best NYC Attractions Pass for Museums

	Sightseeing Pass	New York Pass	Go City New York	CityPASS

9/11 Museum	✔	✔	✔	✔ 9/11 or Intrepid
Natural History	✔ Admission	✔ Admission	✔ Admission	✔ Admission ✔ Planetarium
Guggenheim	✔	✔	✔	✔ TOTR or Guggenheim
Intrepid	✔	✔	✔	✔ 9/11 or Intrepid
MET	X	X	X	X
MoMA	✔	✔	✔
Liberty/ Ellis	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration ✔ Secret Tour	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration	✔ Cruise ✔ Grounds ✔ Ellis Island/Immigration ✔ Secret Tour	✔ Ferry/Grounds or Circle Line
Whitney	✔	✔	✔